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Grayosh surges late to give Brown record-extending sixth win in G2 Lake Placid presented by Caesars Sportsbook

by Christian Abdo

Flanagan Racing’s Grayosh surged late to beat the favored She Feels Pretty and provide trainer Chad Brown a record-extending sixth win in the Grade 2, $200,000 Lake Placid presented by Caesars Sportsbook, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for sophomore fillies, on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.

In victory, the four-time Eclipse Award-winning Brown added to past scores in the event with Aspray [2023], Haughty [2022], Technical Analysis [2021], Regal Glory [2019] and Rushing Fall [2018] - making it four consecutive runnings to his name, as well.

“She really was training super, and then I just entered to take a look. When she drew so well, I said, ‘You know what, let’s give it a go, I think she can at least be competitive and get a piece.’ She showed a lot of heart there to find more and really out-finish a good horse,” Brown said of the mild upset winner at odds of 7-1.

Piloted by Flavien Prat, the Yoshida gray broke alertly from the inside post and settled into third position behind the pace dictated by 39-1 longshot Ori, who set an opening quarter-mile in 24.22 seconds over the good turf.

Ori continued to lead, with De Regreso keeping watch from second position and Grayosh saving ground along the hedge 4 1/2 lengths back to the inside of heavy mutuel favorite She Feels Pretty as the half-mile elapsed in 49.67.

Entering the far turn, the order remained unchanged but the field began to reel in the ambitious maiden claiming-winner Ori. The Hall of Famer John Velazquez-piloted She Feels Pretty ranged up to the outside of De Regreso with Grayosh getting going to the inside as Brown’s other entrants Dynamic Pricing and Spaliday tried to pick it up from the back of the field after three-quarters in 1:14.30.

At the top of the stretch, Ori retreated and De Regreso also backpedaled, with Prat instantly capitalizing on the newfound opening but with some work to do as She Feels Pretty traveled in clear air down the center of the course.

After one mile, there was no separating She Feels Pretty and Grayosh but the gray kept finding more to the inside of the Grade 1-winner, who spun her wheels a touch under Velazquez late.

“She split those horses well,” Prat said. “She was brave enough to go up the rail and between horses and she fought all the way through to the finish.”

Brave indeed, in a thrilling finish, Grayosh came out on top by a neck in a final time of 1:43.74.

Brown-trainees Dynamic Pricing and Spaliday rounded out the superfecta. Ori, Beautiful Love, Gala Brand, and De Regreso completed the order of finish.

Deep Satin, Les Reys, and Proctor Street were scratched, along with main track-only entrants Lemon Muffin, Manama Gold, and Camera.

On the first Saturday of the Saratoga meet, Brown and Prat teamed up with the gray Whitebeam to capture the Grade 1 Diana. On now the sixth Saturday of the meet, the trainer-jockey duo turned back the clock with another gray winning the day’s featured turf graded stakes.

Brown said the previous 1-for-5 maiden winner lived up to his expectations. Her one prior stakes attempt was a fourth in the Grade 2 Wonder Again in May at Belmont at the Big A.

“She always trained all winter before we ever ran her like she was a graded-level horse,” Brown explained. “She just was bit unlucky and I probably rushed her a little bit into a stake prior this year. She’s on track now.”

Brown said a potential next start for Grayosh is the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on October 12 at Keeneland.

“She could be an interesting horse for the Queen Elizabeth. I know it’s a big step, but I’ve had luck in that race and she fits,” said Brown, who won that event most recently in 2022 with Gina Romantica.

Velazquez said that the Cherie DeVaux-trained She Feels Pretty was game in defeat.

“I tried to get the jump on them. She's a tough filly - when she gets to the lead, she tries to wait. Head and head, she thinks that she's just working,” said Velazquez. “She's better covered up and one move, but I couldn't do that either.”

DeVaux agreed that there’s still some learning to do for the last-out third-place finisher in the Grade 1 Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational on July 6 at the Big A.

“She ran great again, but she also did like she did in her last race and kind of waits on her company, so we may try to experiment with some blinkers and see if that helps her get out of that habit,” said DeVaux.

Grayosh made the grade with the win and banked $110,000 in victory while improving her record to 6-2-1-1. She returned $17.60 for a $2 win bet.

Bred in Kentucky by Susan E. Bedwell, Grayosh, out of the stakes-placed Paddy O’Prado mare Rosie O’Prado, was a $25,000 purchase at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.

Live racing resumes Sunday with an 11-race card that features the state-bred $125,000 Evan Shipman Handicap [Race 3] and the Listed $150,000 Bolton Landing [Race 7]. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

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